[over the palisade]

chapter eleven

Techno, as he did most mornings, woke up just before the sun started seeping over the horizon. Techno had found himself caught in the equilibrium between being a morning person and a night person, he guessed it was just because sleep never came easy for him and it didn't last too long, so at some point, he just gave in and accepted his fate.

The only part about the mornings that Techno disliked was the fact that he always woke up freezing. He had no idea why, but he always woke up with the king of cold that feels like it's been sitting in your bones, so Techno was usually pretty quick to get his start for the day.

And thus, today was no exception. Techno woke up cold, bitter, and tired. He fumbled around in the pitch black, mindlessly dressing himself to the best of his abilities while still in his tent where he couldn't stand up straight. Techno threw his cape over his shoulder and grabbed his rapier and longsword, then walked out into the mindless dark.

Techno was used to this by now though. His eyesight was slightly better than now than it was as a human, though not as good as a fae like Phil or Tubbo, but he could see enough to make it over to the lanterns they had sitting around the camp for his and the other morning dwellers benefit.

Speaking of fellow morning dwellers, Techno heard the distant rustling of Deo, who even now that his brothers had joined them and insisted on sleeping in a tent, still set up his trusty hammock and slept the night away there. Techno couldn't blame him though, he wouldn't necessarily want to share a tent with his brother either.

Techno ignited the kindling inside the lanterns around the site and watched and Deo wandered over towards him and the lights like a moth. Techno gave him a nod of acknowledgment and turned back to continue lighting up the lanterns.

Deo stretched his back out and cracked his knuckles, then went around and lit the last two lanterns around the camp.

"We wanna take five or six?" Deo asked, looking out into the darkness. "I can see well enough, but they might just be nice," He told Techno.

"I can see alright but the lanterns would definitely help," Techno said, picking three up in his arms. "Are we going to use shields or just swords?"

"Oh it's too early for me to use shields," Deo chuckled, "Plus I've got to be honest, I don't know where Tommy put my shields after yesterday."

"Oh yeah, you might never get that thing back," Techno laughed. "He'll probably lose it or try to convince you it's his."

"I mean it literally has my face on it," Deo commented.

"Wait I thought it had a gor-" Techno paused, "Oh yeah," he whispered. "Wait, so you can actually do that- or like look like that? With the eyes and snakes and everything?" Techno asked curiously.

"Oh yeah, yeah. All snakey and whatnot," Deo nodded. "I mean I haven't 'reverted' back to that I guess you could say in years now, but yeah."

Techno nodded, "I see. Well, are you ready? I think I remember the way to some pretty flat ground and whatnot."

Deo nodded and grabbed two more lanterns and quickly ran over all the things he had on him, noting his sword, glasses, lanterns, and hat before shrugging and taking his hat off and throwing it back into the dark where his hammock was. "'S probably gonna get in my way," He explained.

Techno nodded then turned to walk out into the woods. They walked in almost perfect silence for a few minutes and Techno looked through the forest, trying his best to navigate to the spot he noted the day prior until he did in fact find the location.

The two set out the five lanterns they had brought with them out in a large circle that lit up the ground well. The two walked towards each other in the center of the circle and shook hands, unsheathed their weapons, and began without another word.